6 Points From Psaki’s Vogue Profile: Being Called ‘Nice’ Is ‘Like Nails on a Chalkboard’
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki revealed she does not like being called “nice,” saying it “is like nails on a chalkboard.” Vogue magazine featured a profile of the press secretary in its latest issue. Written by…
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki revealed she does not like being called “nice,” saying it “is like nails on a chalkboard.”
Vogue magazine featured a profile of the press secretary in its latest issue. Written by Lizzie Widdicombe, the profile takes a deep dive into Psaki’s previous experiences in politics as well as her current position with the Biden administration. Here are six takeaways.
It is all about the tone
Psaki told Vogue the most important thing about speaking on the president’s behalf is tone, adding, “The first thing he said to me was ‘We need to be aligned on tone,’ or, really, he needs me to be aligned with him.”
She continued, “He said, ‘We are healing a country whose nerves have been frayed. It’s just a little bit frantic. We need to be projecting calm, openness to engagement, governing for all people.’ It doesn’t mean you don’t have moments where you are tough or firm or make clear to people when they’ve crossed a line. He does that, too.”
Psaki called the tone her “North Star.”
She’d ‘manage what needed to be managed’
Psaki’s former White House colleague David Axelrod praised her handling of the Obama 2008 press bus.
“Things happen on the road. You’re faced with a sh*tload of reporters, and all of them have different stories they’re working on and problems and needs. When she went out on the road, things would go smoothly. She’d handle it. She’d manage what needed to be managed. That’s an incredibly important quality in this business,” Axelrod said.